Northern Parula

Surprise – it’s another warbler! Yes folks, these little bug-loving songbirds have taken the northeastern U.S. by storm and if you venture out to nearly any cluster of deciduous trees there’s a good chance that you’ll see – or hear – at least one species of warbler!

Although its common name doesn’t include the term, Northern Parulas are indeed warblers (hence the Setophaga genus name) and are widespread across the eastern U.S. If you don’t see them you’ll still likely hear them: their buzzing upwardly-trilling call is quite characteristic, once you learn to recognize it.

I spotted this Northern Parula along the banks of the Pawtuxet River on May 7, 2015.

*Male Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) • May 7, 2015*

According to the Audubon Field Guide (online):

This small warbler is often hard to see as it forages in dense foliage of the treetops. However, it is easy to hear; the male seems to repeat his buzzy trickle-up song constantly from early spring through mid-summer at least. Northern Parulas hide their nests inside hanging Spanish moss in the South, or in the similar Usnea lichens in the North, where they are impossible to spot except by the actions of the parent birds.

FAST FACT:
This is a monogamous species, however, a few cases of polygamy have been reported.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Northern Parula populations appear to be stable, but migrating birds do regularly get killed after flying into structures such as communication towers.